Comparison of constant load exercise intensity for verification of maximal oxygen uptake following a graded exercise test in older adults.

Ian R Villanueva,Jared M Dickinson,John C Campbell,Shannon L Wilson,Theresa M Jorgensen,Serena M Medina,Siddhartha S Angadi,Glenn A Gaesser

doi:10.14814/phy2.15037

Ian R Villanueva, Jared M Dickinson + Show 6 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.14814/phy2.15037

Copy DOI

Abstract

Maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) declines with advancing age and is a predictor of morbidity and mortality risk. The purpose here was to assess the utility of constant load tests performed either above or below peak work rate obtained from a graded exercise test for verification of VO2max in older adults. Twenty‐two healthy older adults (9M, 13F, 67 ± 6 years, BMI: 26.3 ± 5.1 kg·m−2) participated in the study. Participants were asked to complete two experimental trials in a randomized, counterbalanced cross‐over design. Both trials (cycle ergometer) consisted of (1) an identical graded exercise test (ramp) and (2) a constant load test at either 85% (CL85; n = 22) or 110% (CL110; n = 20) of the peak work rate achieved during the associated ramp (performed 10‐min post ramp). No significant differences were observed for peak VO2 (L·min−1) between CL85 (1.86 ± 0.72; p = 0.679) or CL110 (1.79 ± 0.73; p = 0.200) and the associated ramp (Ramp85, 1.85 ± 0.73; Ramp110, 1.85 ± 0.57). Using the study participant's mean coefficient of variation in peak VO2 between the two identical ramp tests (2.9%) to compare individual differences between constant load tests and the associated ramp revealed 19/22 (86%) of participants achieved a peak VO2 during CL85 that was similar or higher versus the ramp, while only 13/20 (65%) of participants achieved a peak VO2 during CL110 that was similar or higher versus the ramp. These data indicate that if a verification of VO2max is warranted when testing older adults, a constant load effort at 85% of ramp peak power may be more likely to verify VO2max as compared to an effort at 110% of ramp peak power.

Highlights

Advancing age is associated with a variety of physiological and biological changes that can contribute to impaired physical function
The primary purpose of this study was to employ a cross-over design to assess the utility of a constant load test performed at a work rate below (85%) and a work rate above (110%) the peak work rate achieved during a graded exercise test for validating a maximal effort and verifying VO2max in healthy older adults
To our knowledge this is the first study to employ a randomized, counterbalanced cross-over design to evaluate the utility of constant load tests performed above and below ramp-derived peak work rate to serve as a strategy to verify a maximal effort and VO2max in healthy older adults

Summary

Introduction

Advancing age is associated with a variety of physiological and biological changes that can contribute to impaired physical function. Of particular interest is the steady decline in the maximal rate of oxygen uptake (VO2max) that is well documented during advancing age (Betik & Hepple, 2008; Gries et al, 1985; Kaminsky et al, 2015). Developing effective exercise testing strategies that can be used to verify a maximal exercise effort, and VO2max, in older adults could have important implications for accurate assessment of morbidity and mortality risk in this population. The absence of an observed VO2 plateau has produced queries as to the validatity of these tests for accurately assessing VO2max (Day et al, 2003; Howley et al, 1995; Midgley & Carroll, 2009; Poole et al, 2008). The use of these secondary criteria is problematic (Poole & Jones, 2017) as these criteria can often be achieved at a “submaximal” effort (Poole et al, 2008)

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion